Ethiopians triumph in CT marathon

ETHIOPIAN athletes ran off with the spoils in the men’s and women’s races at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon yesterday, as Addis Ababa-based athletes, Asefa Mengistu Negewo and Betelhem Moges Cherenet

triumphed Negewo let his feet do the talking, surging clear of his rivals in the final kilometres to win in 2 hrs 10 min 01 sec – the second-fastest winning time in the history of the race, 1 min 20 sec off his own record set last year.

“I enjoy racing in Cape Town,” Negewo said. “It seems to be good to me! Last year we went with the pacers, but I felt a slight twinge in my hamstring at the start, and thought I would be more cautious today. Perhaps that cost me a faster time, but I’m pleased with the win.”

While Xolisa Tyali flew South African colours in the lead pack when the racing got serious in the latter stages, it was debutant, George-born Elroy Gelant, who finished strongly for fifth place in 2:12:49 – the first South African home.

“A great race – what a privilege to run in a world-class event at home,” Gelant remarked. “The conditions were near-perfect and the supporters really made a difference. I found myself running on my own after 35km and it was only the music and singers who kept me going!”

Drama unfolded when South African pace setter, Desmond Mokgubu, inexplicably stopped abruptly at 6km to go no further. This left Kenyan Henry Kiplagat to repeat his impressive pace-setting of last year on his own, but this time no one could go with him. Kiplagat cut a lone figure at the front of the race until the leaders caught him at 31.5km after he slowed and stopped as planned.

When Negewo upped the pace near 36km, only fellow Ethiopian Ketema Bekele Negasa and Kenyan Duncan Maiyo were able to respond.

Seemingly drawing energy from the giant icons of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu on the Civic Centre as the trio approached, Negewo surged again and this time for keeps.

The women’s competition proved fiercer still. Initially the elite women were reluctant to go with Namibian, pacer Helalia Johannes, who kept to the promised sub-2 hr 30 min pace until deep into the race.

However, instead of dropping out the race after 30km, Johannes opted to continue as she had every right to do, and was still ahead as she turned into the Green Point precinct with little more than 1km to run.

Closing fast, 26-year-old Cherenet finally caught her prey in the final kilometre, showing impressive finishing speed and breaking the tape at the stadium just six seconds clear of the Namibian. Kenyan Agnes Kiprop took third in 2:30:57, just 30 seconds ahead of two more Ethiopians – Meseret Asefan and Fantu Eticha.